1. What do you like most about your course?

I’ve really enjoyed my course. My lecturers have all been great, they’re friendly and supportive and I appreciate how knowledgeable and passionate they are about the subjects. The modules we study have all been extremely relevant to the role of an information professional both in theory and practically. It’s been reassuring that when I’ve spoken to people in that career about what they do, it’s a direct reflection of what we have been studying. This helps me feel like I am becoming a professional and to see myself as a librarian.

2. What were your lecturers like and how did they help you to succeed throughout your course?

My lecturers have all been amazing, they’ve been supportive and friendly and their passion for the subject has been a big motivator for me. I’ve had great support from my dissertation supervisor with regular meetings and she has really helped to guide me through my research.

3. Did you complete a placement, or have you taken part in any extracurricular activities/projects alongside your studies?

I’m currently completing a placement with Collections Care at National Museums Liverpool. This has been a great experience and everyone I’ve dealt with has been really friendly and supportive. 

I took part in a RISE at Manchester Met project working with Manchester Metropolitan University Special Collections Museum over the summer. This was a really fun experience and a great opportunity to add a bit more to my degree. It also gave me experience of working with special collections looking at their archive of Victorian greetings cards.

I attended the LILAC conference in 2022 where myself and a group of my fellow students were keynote speakers. This was an absolutely brilliant opportunity that I found extremely rewarding and will definitely help me in the future when I’m looking to start my new career.

4. Did you use any particularly good facilities on your course?

The main facility I use is the library, both to borrow books and to use study spaces. The library is always very warm and inviting and holds special relevance to me through my MA.

5. What skills do you feel you have gained/developed during your studies at Manchester Met? 

I’ve gained research skills, and a lot of the skills I have developed on my course will definitely help me in the future. The course is practical and I already know through talking to people I’ve met through the course that I’ll continue to use what I’m learning now in my future career.

6. Did you take advantage of the links your department has to start building a network?

I’ve managed to make some great connections with information professionals through my course. This was made possible through the LILAC conference and through the information professionals that come in to talk to us as part of a few of our modules. Such as on ‘Introduction to Health Librarianship’, each week a different person in health librarianship would come in and talk about their role. I hope to reach out to many of these people once I am beginning my own career. I feel that the lecturers on my course are also great connections as they all have solid experience with a long history of working in the profession.

7. Tell us about a piece of university work or a special achievement from your time at Manchester Met that you are particularly proud of.

I’m particularly proud of being a keynote speaker at the LILAC conference. I have always struggled with public speaking and would never have thought I’d be able to speak at a conference in front of hundreds of people. It makes me feel proud to know that I did that and I wouldn’t have been able to without the support of my lecturers and the organisers of the conference.

8. Is there anything else you would like to tell us about?

If you’re considering becoming a librarian or information professional I would recommend this course. There can be the perception that the role of a librarian is quite stuffy and archaic but in my experience it’s the opposite of that. The course has felt fresh, relevant and very socially minded which I’ve loved.

Find out more about MA Library and Information Management.